Got a chance to look at my Grandfather's folding knife over the Christmas holiday and it is a bit different than your folder. His is a 'Pal' Brand with the name - Hunters "Pal" - etched on the blade. It does not have the folding guard or stag handles like yours and the tip of the sheath has a leather cap instead of the metal one yours has.

Looks neat. I bought one years ago just to ck it out. Never did anything with it. J.Michael

at least to the mid 1800s. i have a really old one, no sheath, i will try to post pictures of .

not sure how practical they are , but what they heck they are fun and interesting and go well with our other 'tools'

of an old farmstead. from the books and pictures i have seen, this one dates to the mid 1800s, american civil war period or just after. had to pay 6.50$ to out bid every one on this one.

this is a really neat old piece !

Reminds me a lot of the Marble's folder with the guard for the section of blade extending beyond the handle when closed. I looked at some of the Marble's chinese reproductions of that style at the Smokey Mountain Knife Works store last spring. Guess I will have to use my Grandfather's knife when deer hunting next year, just to see how practical it really is.

Took a look online earlier and saw where one sold recently for $365. Don't know what you paid for yours, but I was surprised to find one sold for that price.